Monthly Archives: March 2007

Shaquanda Cotton

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of days ago, I mentioned in passing the case of Shaquanda Cotton, a high school freshman in Paris, Texas, who was sentenced to seven years in the TYC facility in Brownwood for pushing a teacher’s aide. (Vince, Grits, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

River Oaks redevelopment made official

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A month ago, we heard about the impending redevelopment of part of the River Oaks Shopping Center. It’s now official. The owner of the historic River Oaks Shopping Center announced plans Friday to demolish a portion of the center and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on River Oaks redevelopment made official

Friday random ten: The “Better Late Than Never” edition

Posted on March 31, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, I know it’s Saturday. I had this drafted earlier, then never got a chance to post it yesterday. Now I am. Without further ado, here are ten more songs from the current playlist: 1. Raina Do Mer (Queen of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Friday random ten: The “Better Late Than Never” edition

Budget moves forward with a pay raise for teachers

Posted on March 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

After the opening snuff of multiple Democratic amendments, things got better from a Democratic perspective as an amendment to give teachers an across-the-board pay raise as part of the budget bill. “Bottom line, members, do we want to give teachers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Budget moves forward with a pay raise for teachers

Consent searches

Posted on March 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) has put out its 2007 report on Law Enforcement and Racial Profiling (PDF), with all the data you could want about who gets subjected to consent searches (i.e., searches by police where there is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Is this the end for the Astrodome Hotel?

Posted on March 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in August, Commissioners’ Court approved a plan by the Astrodome Redevelopment folks to secure financing for their much-touted Dome Hotel. They were supposed to have that in hand by March of this year. Well, as Tom and Houstonist have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

No red light cameras yet for Alamo Heights

Posted on March 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

While the city-within-a-city of Balcones Heights has adopted red light cameras, its sister city-within-a-city Alamo Heights has demurred. Police Chief Rick Pruitt says right now the situation is too fluid, with many measures in the Legislature that would crack down … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

You know where you can stick your amendments

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Note: See second update below Whatever you may think of today’s budget bill, keep this in mind: It’s 100% the work of the Republicans, because Democratic amendments are being snuffed before they even get a chance to be debated. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Budget battles today

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Today the House will take up the Committee Substitute for House Bill 1 (CSHB1), which is the state budget bill. I’m sure I’ll have plenty to link to and talk about later today, but for now, here’s two items regarding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Budget battles today

Voter ID bills pass out of committee

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Not surprisingly, the two voter ID bills passed out of committee yesterday on a party line vote. It will, I presume, also be passed by the House on a straight party line vote as well. The only question at this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Supreme Court agrees to hear Jones’ appeal

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Ray Jones has cleared the first hurdle in appealing his case to the state Supreme Court. The Court has agreed to hear his appeal, and has requested a reply from the city by 3 PM on Wednesday, April 4. We’ll … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Supreme Court agrees to hear Jones’ appeal

Reminder: Town hall meeting with Rep. Ellen Cohen

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that tonight at 7 PM on the campus of Rice University, State Rep. Ellen Cohen will be hosting a town hall meeting on education. Details are here. One of the presenters is former State Sen. and Lt. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Reminder: Town hall meeting with Rep. Ellen Cohen

More wind over wind farms

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the folks at the King Ranch are hot about wind farms. They are now taking their beef to the Lege. King Ranch Inc., the agricultural holding company that owns the South Texas ranch and other properties, is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Business tax revenue projected to fall short

Posted on March 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I wish I could say I’m surprised by this, but I’m not. Texas’ new business tax may bring in $500 million to $900 million less per year than originally projected, the state comptroller said in a draft letter to lawmakers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Business tax revenue projected to fall short

TYC: Kimbrough now conservator

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Jay Kimbrough has been named conservator of the Texas Youth Commission, nearly a month after the Lege urged Governor Perry to name someone to that post. Mr. Kimbrough took the reins with ease, vowing to force all superintendents and many … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on TYC: Kimbrough now conservator

Voter ID bill in committee today

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s probably too late to do anything about it, and the committee agenda is somewhat suspiciously free of any mention of it, but I’m told that two voter ID bills, HBs 218 and 626 are up for a committee vote … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Ray Jones appeals to Supreme Court

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Ray Jones, whose effort to get on the ballot for the May 12 City Council special election was denied by the 14th Court of Appeals last week, has taken his efforts to the State Supreme Court. His writ of mandamus … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Ray Jones appeals to Supreme Court

The “Bill Ceverha Bill” passes out of the Senate

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this month, a bill was filed in the House to close a loophole in which state officials did not have to disclose the value of a gift they received. That bill is pending in committee, but now a similar … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Another downtown tower

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for another downtown tower? Betting on the continued strength of downtown’s office market, Trammell Crow Co. is planning to build a tower on the eastern end of downtown near the convention center and Discovery Green, a 12-acre … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Another downtown tower

MLB and DirecTV

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if you’ve been following the controversy over Major League Baseball’s deal with DirecTV for exclusive rights to their Extra Innings package – suffice it to say that my parents, who live in a north-facing condo that provides … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Red light cameras fully enabled in Balcones Heights

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The city-within-San Antonio of Balcones Heights, which installed red light cameras back in January, have now fully enabled those cameras, and have begun mailing citations to violators as of this past Sunday. The Express News has more on this: The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Two more things about Medicaid

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Burka revisits the subject of the Frew v. Hawkins class action lawsuit over Medicaid and the state’s obligations for same, which I last mentioned here. April 9 is fast approaching, and you should expect several shoes to drop once this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Two more things about Medicaid

TYC: On reviewing sentences

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The plan by TYC Special Master Jay Kimbrough to review the sentences of youth offenders who had their sentences extended by TYC authorities to see who might now be locked up for purposes of retaliation or intimidation has run into … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on TYC: On reviewing sentences

Lampson update

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

More news on Rep. Nick Lampson’s recovery from bypass surgery. Lampson’s doctors said the congressman was doing well, even though the blockage was in the worst possible place, the trunk of the coronary artery. Without the surgery, which was performed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Lampson update

The BlackBerry Defense

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome! [O]n February 6th, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the administration intended to nominate (and have the Senate confirm) replacements for all the ousted prosecutors. But as the emails make clear, Alberto Gonzales’ chief … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Danno TV

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Patrick has a film crew following him around, Kinky Friedman-style. This has not endeared him to his colleagues. “Do you have a live microphone on you?” Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, asked the freshman lawmaker. Patrick assured Carona and other … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Danno TV

Won’t you be my forever stamp?

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From the Ideas Whose Time Have Come Department: the Forever Stamp. The forever stamp goes on sale April 12 at 41 cents. The rate for first-class postage rises to 41 cents May 14. The stamp, which will carry the word … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Won’t you be my forever stamp?

Justice For Laura Candlelight Vigil

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The following is a press release from the Laura Recovery Center for missing children: Justice For Laura – Candlelight Vigil Tuesday, April 3 – Stevenson Park, Friendswood FRIENDSWOOD, TX – The Laura Recovery Center is announcing a public candlelight vigil, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Justice For Laura Candlelight Vigil

Ed Brandon announces his retirement

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Local TV weatherman Ed Brandon has announced his retirement next month. In the process, he gave a lengthy interview about his career to his KTRK colleague Mike McGuff. (Another colleague from KTRK, Laurence Simon, adds his memories of Brandon.) Brandon … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Ed Brandon announces his retirement

Let the tubing season begin!

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gives us an update and overview of the state and regulation of tubing in New Braunfels as the recreation season begins. Nothing much new here if you’ve been following this news all along (last update here), but there … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Get well soon, Rep. Lampson

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From the office of Rep. Nick Lampson: On Sunday, March 25, Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Stafford) received coronary artery bypass surgery to treat blockages of the arteries on the surface of his heart. The surgery was performed by Dr. O.H. “Bud” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

TYC: Reform bills to come tomorrow

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The House tried to pass some Texas Youth Commission reforms last week but ran into some technical difficulties (I’m trying to put a nice face on it here). Tomorrow, the Senate will take a crack at it. The first wide-ranging … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on TYC: Reform bills to come tomorrow

Old Sixth Ward wins preservation award

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January, I noted that the Old Sixth Ward had put a series of videos up on YouTube that talked about the need to preserve their historic neighborhood. I’m pleased to report that they won an award for this. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Old Sixth Ward wins preservation award

The NBA draft lottery

Posted on March 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta love Jeff Van Gundy. The man is not afraid to speak his mind. Weeks before accusations could begin that teams were tanking games to improve their chances of landing either of the season’s celebrated college prodigies, Greg Oden and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment